Integrating mechanism



E. H. MESSITER.

INTEGRATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2o. I9I1.

Patented J mi 24, 1919.

3 SHEETS-'SHEET l.

E. H. MESSITER. INTEGRATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. IBI 7. 1,307,369, l Patented June 24, 1919..

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4 l E. H. MESSITEH.

INTEGRATI'NG MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. I9! 7.

1,307, 369. Patented June 24, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3'.

a` specification,

IUNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN H.

MESSITER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC WEIGHING COMPNY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INTEGRATING MECHAN ISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J lll-1e 24, 1919.

Application filed September 20, 1917. Serial No. 192,282.

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. MEssrTER, a citizen of the United States of America, and .a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Integrating Mechanism, of which the following is reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. Y

My invention relates to integrating o`r counting devices and'has for one object to provide a simpleand compact integrating unit,` oner or more of which may be utilized depending onl the number of digits in the maximum total to be integrated by the machine.

Another object is to provide an inexpensive and reliable actuator for a counter unit of the aforesaid character.

Still another object is to provide in combination with a device of the aforesaid character, means for producing a signal to designate when a predetermined number has been counted.

Integrating mechanisms are required for various purposes. For example, an automatic weighing machine or the like may readilyr be arranged `to make and break an electric circuit for each ton or other unit of weight of material carried by the weigher.

The apparatus ofmy present invention is not limitedl to any special eld of usefulness i vbut is adapted to integrate or count the number of times an electric circuit is made and broken, and this may be used to total the tons of material delivered from the weighingmachine and for various other purposes.

In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I will now proceed to describe the same in the following speciication, and then point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partial sectional front elevation of an integrating mechanism arranged and constructed in accordance with my yinvention and composed of a plurality of interchangeable units eachof which constitutes an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of one of the .t*-.,units of which the structure shown in Figs.

1 and 2 is composed. ,f Fig. 1 1S a sectional view taken on the line suice for all.

4 4 of Fig. 3 and showing particularly'th'e actuator for the device. v

Figs. 5; 6 and 7 arev sectional details taken respectively on the lines 5-5, 6 6 and 7-7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view showing a portion of the actuator spindle.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit connections for the structure shown in the previous figures.

Special reference may 1 to 8 inclusive.

The structure here' shown comprises an outer box or casing 10 in which are disposed a plurality or counter units 11. These units or sections are identical and .any number first be had to Figs.

. may be assembled, depending upon the service requirements to be met by the apparatus. The units are provided w1th interlocking projections as hereinafter explained` and they may 1be held together by any suitable means such as clamping rods (not shown),

although a casing or box such as the casing 10, will usually be preferable in order to give the device the' appearance of a unitary structure. The device as a whole is provided with a pair of electric circuit switches 12 and 13 which are used for setting.

The switches comprise lmovable contact members 14 and 15 which are secured to a reset Sbar 16. This |bar extends through the casing 10,-being slidably mounted in bearings formed therein, and projects at one end which constitutes a push button 18. A

Vspring 19 tends to hold the bar 16 in such position as to close the switch 13 and open the switch 12. When the push button 18 is pressed inwardly in opposition to the sprin-g the switch 12 is closed and the switch 13 is opened.

The bar 16 has a plurality of lateral projections 20 which hold the movable contacts 21 and 22 of reset switches, which form parts of the several units, away from their coperating stationary contacts, except when the bar is pressed inwardly in opposition to the Spring 19.

Inasmuch as the integrating or counter unitsare identical a description of one will As shown in Figsfsto 8, eacli unit lor section comprises aframe 25 havingsd Ia.' perforated side plate] 26'; end

frames 27 and 28, and a substantially rec- Y armature 31 from which an 'actuator having the form of an escapement 32 depends.

A spindle 33 extends through the jaws of\ the escapement actuator 32 land a ratchet wheel 34 is aiixed theretoin position to cooperate withthe jaws of the actuator. The j spindle 33 is supported at' one end in a bearing 35 provided in the end frame 27 and at the opposite end is mounted in a socket or pivot bearing 36 provided in the end of a stationary pin or shaft 37 which is co axial with the spindle and has rotatable 38 is operativel thereon a sleeve or bushing 38 ofinsulating material. 'Mounted on this sleeve or `bushing are a p'air of contact rings 39 and 40, and a pair of axial contact fingers 4l and42.

These fingers coperate with a commutator sleeve 43 mounted on the adjacent end of the spindle 33. The commutator has a pair of interconnected segments 44 which are Iadapted to be engaged under predetermined conditions 'by the respective contact fingers 41 and 42.

The pin or shaft 37 is secured in a socket 45k formed in the end plate .28 and the sleeve y connected to a shaft 46 by gear wheel 47. v

The shaft 46 has aixed to it a ratchet wheel 48 coperating with a` stationary resilient pawl '49. It is rotatively mounted yin* bearings 50 provided in the respective end frames 27 and 28 and extends through the front end frame or plate 27 where it is squared or otherwise formed vas designated at-51 to receive a key or wrench by which it may-beset to any predetermined position.

The shaft 46 is substantially parallel to the spindle 33 and 'a pair of circular number plates 52 and 53v are respectively aixed to the shafts 33 and 46 adjacent to the end frame 27 which is perforated at 54 and 55 to exhibit one ofthe numbers on each number plate. y An insulating block or bar 56 is securedl to the frame above the shaft 33 and has aflixed to it a pair of resilient contact fingers 57 and 58 which make contact respectively with the' contact, rings 39 andv 40 of the sleeve 38. The block 4is furthermore provided with a air of stationary contacts 60 yand 61 of whlch the contactl 61 is formed- "with two contact points 62 and 63.

Mounted on the spindle'33 are a pair of cams 64 and 65 which 4govern the action of a pair of resilient contact arms 66 and 67.

';. These arms are affixed to a bracket 6'8 which is mounted on the frame 25 of the unit and they extend upwardly in osition to coperate -'with the contact members 61 an'd 60 respectively. The contacts 66 and 67 areprovided with lugs -69 and 70 which directly cooperate withthe cams 64`and' 65. The cam 64 has the form of.' a ratchet wheel having nine teeth .71 spaced apart 'by substantially,

tenth of a circumference, the teeth being equal in size with the exception of one' which is designated 72 and is wider than'the others.

The cam isI Isingle notch 73.

The contact arm 66 is divided orbifurcated at its outer end into a pair of fingers 21l and.

22 to coperate with the respective contacty points 62 and 6'3.

The contact finger 2l is offset relative to the finger 22 and consequently the circuit is first made and broken' at the contact point 62 which is adapted to take the arc and prevent the contact point 63 from becoming damaged.

The fingers 21 and 22 are preferably provided with contact points 74 and`75 'to cooperate with the points 62 and 63. vAs alreadydescribed in connection with the resetting mechanism. the fingers 21 and 22 extend upwardly into position to be engaged byjthe lateral4 projections 20 of the reset bar 16. .v

The `contact arm 67 has al contactpoint 8 which is adapted to co erate with a con- 90 tact point 79 of the mem r 60. v

The escapement member 32 as clearly shown in Fig. 4, has the vgeneral form of a hollow arectangular plate 80 pivotally suspendd by a pin 81 from the armature 31 of 95 the actuating'magnet.` The escapement has a projection 82 which extends downwardly through a slot 83 in a guide nod 84. This guide rod may conveniently be a stud, screwed into the frame 26 of the unit at 85 v and having a pair of nuts 86 constituting limits between which the projection 82 extends.

The escapement plate 80 hasan actuating projection 87, a lug 88 forming a shoulder 105 againstwhich the teeth (nf the ratchet wheel v i34 come to a stop. The escapement plate is similarly provided on its opposite side with a lug 89 which forms a stop and an actuating Y projection 90 which actuates the ratchet when 110 the magnet: 30 is energized and the escape` ment lifted. When the magnet is dener- 'zed, the armature 31 and the escapement alls and the ratchet is again actuated but this time by the finger 87. The arrangement of parts is such that this successive energization of the magnet produces a step by step rotative movement of the spindle 33.

The operation of the device and the circuit connections for the same will now be discussed.

'As long as the reset mechanism is held in its inactive position by the spring 19, as shown in Figs. 2and 9, the reset switches, comprising the `fingers 21 and 22, are held open. Each of the transfer switches, comprising the contacts 78 and 79, is held open by the cam 65 except when the lug 70 falls in the notch 73 and the arrangement of parts is such that thisl occurs once in each 13o cylindrical except for a` I revolution of the cam, the number plate 52 being aixed to the spindle 33 revolves once for each revolution of the vspindle and it is set relative to Vthe cam so that the transfer switch is closed when the number plate indicated 9 and is open to interrupt circuit as explained below when the magnet 30 is deenergized andl the escapement vmechanism falls; in other Words, when the number plate movesfrom 9 to 0. Thus the transfer switch is closed and opened Whenever the number disk is moved from 9 to 0.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 9, itmay be assumed that the parts occupy the positions shown and that all of the number plates register 0.

In the diagram of circuit making and breakingv device which isresponsive to the succession of events which are to be counted by the mechanism. It is shown in its closed position and a circuit is completed from one terminal 93 of a suitable source of electric energy such as a A battery 94, through the circuit breaker 92a conductor 95, magnet coil 30a which is the actuating coil for the section in the unitsplace, a conductor 96, switch 13, which is closedra conductor 97, and a line conductor 98 which is connected to the opposite yterminal 99 of the battery. The magnet of the units section is thus momentarily energized with the result that the core 31 is raised and dropped carrying the escapement mechanism with it and actuating the 'spindle 33 through the ratchet wheel 434.50 as to turn the numberplate 52 from 0 to 1. Each successive closing and opening of the circuit breaker 92 moves the number plateA to a higher number-until 9 is reached. Then when the circuit breaker 92 is next closed and opened, not only is the number disk on the units section moved from 9 to 0, but the transfer switch which may for convenience be designated 78a, is momentarily closed.

A circuit is established through the trans- Y fer switch from conductor 95 through coil 30b of the tens section, through transfer switch '78a of the unitsv section, and conductor 100 to the negative conductor 98. The

.transfer 4switch 7 8 isA not again energized until the spindle33 makes another complete revolution and until the vunits/disk hasagain lsuccessively indicated numbers from 0 to 9 inclusive. The counter-during this period has of courseshown readings -breaker 92 produces lanenergization of not only transfer switch 7 8" of the next unit. Thus the transfer switch 78L but also the adjustment of t Fig. 9, 92 designates av all three magnets a, b, c, areenergized and the machine indicates the device continues in like manner until the highest number which can be produced on the machine is reached.

The machine is intended to be utilized .where it has ample capacity and the number of sections will depend on the size of the numbers to be dealt with.

In order that the attendant may be warned whenthe mechanism has concluded any predetermined count, the number plates 53 may be set at a desired limit by turning the shaft 46. The turnin of the shaft produces an e sleeve 38 in accordance therewith. h

The arrangement of the commutator segments 44 is such that they will bridge contacts 41 and 42 when the disks 52 and 53 produce a like indication.

The circuit connections for the contacts 41 and 42 are completed through the'contact rings 39 and 40 and contacty fingers of 100. The operation ofterminal 93 through conductor 102, thenl through the various contacts which are arranged in serie/s, conductor 103, a signal device such as a bell 104, and conductor 98 to the opposite terminal 99 of the battery.

` It is evident that this circuit 'cannot be.

completed until each pair of contact lingers 57 and 58 is bridged. Consequentlyvthe signal will not be energized by completing the circuit until each of the number plates which designate the count correspond to the number plate 53 ofthe same unit.

If the number at which a signal is to be given has less digits than the number of sections of the device, the higher sections will be set at 0. e

'With respect to the' resetting, assuming that the count has been secured and it is depush button 18 is pushed inwardly in opposition to the spring 19, permitting'the reset switches composed of contact ,fingers 21 and 22, to close to connect the upper vterminal of each magnet with one side of the battery.' nder these conditions the switch `sired to start a new count from 0, the v 13 will be opened and the switch 12 closed f to connect the lower terminal of each mag` net with the other sideof the battery. `from 10 to 19. The transfer switch 7 8a is If the number plate of any of the counters l is at'0, its reset switch .will be held open independently. ofthe reset bar on account o'f cate fO. This is accomplished by the in-` terinittent motion imparted by the cam- 64 to the contact Iingers 21-22 which in each 'section gives a sufficient number of impulses to its actuator to bring its number plate to zero andto close its transfer switch to start the actuator of the adjacent unitv into action. Thus the rod 16 may be pushed in and held until the number plates 52 of all the sections have been returned to their initial positions. The inechanism is then in condition to be used for another count as soon as the .push button is released.

Attention is directed to the fact that when the switch 13 is opened by actuating the push button, the counting circuit established therethrough for thec actuating coil 30, is interrupted. Consequently the units count# ing disk will not b e actuated as described for counting.

Variations in size and arrangement of` parts may be effected within the spirit and scope of my invention, and I intend only such limitations as 'are imposed by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A counting mechanism comprising .a

frame, 'a rotatable spindle, a number plate and a movable contact, connected to be driven by the spindle, an adjustable relatively stationary contact member adjacent' to the movable contact, a signal contact plate connected with the` adjustable member, y'

means for settingthe positions of the ad- .justable contact and s1 al number plate and asignal adapted to bis! energized by the contact of the movable and adjustable contacts. l

2. A counting mechanism'comprising a frame, a rotatable spindle, a number plate and a commutator connected to be moved L'by-the spindle, a lrotatively adjustable relatively stationary contact member adjacent t'o t e commutator, a signal number plate connected with the adjustable contact member, means for settingthe positions of the adjustable contact member and the signal number plate, and a signal adaptedto be energized when the adjustable contact member contacts with the commutatonf" 3. A counting mechanism comprising a plurality of sections, each havlng a number member, an actuator and a transfer switch adapted lto ybe connected with the actuator of the adjacent unit, and a reset switch,

means for successively .energizing the actuator of one of thev sections, means for'normally retracting the reset.Q switch and means for actuating the reset switches to energize the actuator ofeach section.

`on the yielding means for connectln a reset circuit independently ,of 4. A countlng mechanlsm comprislng -a` tor of one of the sections, meansfor lnormally retracting the reset switch and for .completing the circuit of the units sectionand means for breaking the circuit of the units section and actuating the reset switches to energize the actuator of each section.

5. A counting mechanism comprising a1 a rotatlvely adjustable signal contact coaxially roframe, carrying member, a spindle tatable therewith and having a coperating lcontact member, a number indicator on the splndle, and means for lproducing a step by:

step rotative movement thereof.

6. A counting mechanism comprising a' frame, a rota-tively adjustable signal contact carrylng member, a spindle coaxially rotatable therewith and having a coperating contact member, a number indicator on the spindle, and an electro-responsive escapement mechanism for producing a step step rotative movement of the spindle.'

7. An escapement mechanismcomprising i opposite side ofthe wheel.

.8, An escapement mechanism comprising a toothed wheel, a reciprocating actuator movable at right angles to the yaxis of the to provide a pair of shoulders on one side of the wheel adapted respectively to act as an actuatingand stop projection and /formed on the oppositer side on the wheel with projections constituting respectively an actuator and a stop.

wheel, and a rlgid one-piece member formed 9. A colmtin'g 'apparatus comprising ,a- I

plurality of sections, each havingan electric actuator, and a reset switch, yielding means for holding the reset switches open, a circuit interrupter for successively making and breaking the circuit of the electric actuators, and a pair of selective switches dependent the electric actuators either to 'the circuit breaker or inthel reset circuit.

10. A counting ating magnet, a reset switch and a transfer switch, the coil of each section after the units being connected to the transfer switch of the preceding section and each coil being connected to the reset switch of the same section, a circuit interrupter for making and breakingthe circuit of the actuating coils anda change-over switch for either closing the circuit. 'breaker or closing `the circuit of the units actuating magnet dependent on the circuit breaker. Q L v 11. A counting plurality'of sectlons each having-an actuatmg magnet, la reset switch and a transfer mechanism comprising a. plurahty of sectlons each having an actu-V mechanism comprising aV switch, the coil of each section after the units being connected to the transfer switch of the preceding section and each coil being connected to the reset switch of the same section, a circuit interrupter for making and breaking the circuit of the actuating coils and a change-over switch for either closing a reset circuit independently of the circuit breaker or closing thel circuit of the units actuating magnet dependent on the circuit breaker, and a reset 'bar connected to the said change-over switch and having means for holding the reset switches open when the uni-ts coil circuit is closed.

12. A counting apparatus comprising a plurality of-counting members, an electroresponsive actuator for each member, a reset switch and a transfer switch for each actuator, the electro-responsive actuator for each member being connected to the transfer switch of the preceding member, and also connected to the reset switch of the same member, and a change-over switch adapted inone position to complete a reset circuit dependent on the reset switches and in another position to complete a circuit for the actuator of the units countingmember.

13. A counting mechanism comprisin a plurality of rotary counting members an an electric coil for actuating each member, a transfer switch adapted to be closed once in each revolution of the counter, a reset switch for each actuator, a reset bar'having proj ections for holding the reset switches open, a change-over switch actuated by the reset bar. and composed of a countin circuit switch and a reset circuit switch, an means tendin to hold the counting circuit switch close said reset switches being released,when the reset circuit switch is closed.

14. A counting mechanism comprising a plurality of counters, a plurality of adjustfor the several counters each pies a predeterminedl position, a signal adapted to be energized when the adjustable switches are closed, actuating coils for the several counters, a counting switch in circuit with the units counter, and a transverse switch in circuit with each of the other counters.

15. A counting mechanism comprising a plurality of counters, a plurality of adjustable switches for the several counters each adapted to be closed when its counter occu-V pies a predetermined position, a signal adapted to be energized when the adjustable switches are closed, actuating coils for the several counters, a counting switch in circuit with the units counter, a transfer switch in circuit with each of the other counters, and reset switches for the counters.

16. A countingf mechanism comprising -a plurality of counters, a plurality of adjustable switches for the several counters each adapted to be closed when its counter occupies a predetermined position, a signal adapted to be energized when the adjustable switches are closed, actuating coils for the several counters, a counting switch in circuit with the units counter, a transfer switch in circuit with each of the other counters, reset switches for the counters,'and interlocking'V a reset switch, a circuit interrupter, a transfer switch, and an i actuator fo-r the number plate, the reset switch and the circuit interrupter and the transfer switch, the electromagnetic actuator of each section but one being connected with the transfer switch of the preceding section, and a manual switch for closing the 'circuit of the actuator of the rst section,

each circuit interrupter being provided with means for opening the circuit of its actuator when its number plate reaches its initial position and its transfer switch is closed.

In witness whereof, I havejhereunto set my hand this 19 day of Sept., 1917.

EDWIN H. MEssrrER. 

